Tom Bwana: Gor Mahia at war with itself

Gor Mahia is at war with itself. It is a pale shadow of that glorious team that awed Lord Moses Kuria last season. We are technically out of the Champions League.

I use technically sparingly because those two goals obviously knocked us out. I have watched Gor Mahia for some time now and I can tell when we can mount a considerable comeback. On this one? No, we cannot.

Against Madagascar’s CNaPS, we may as well not have showed up. We played the crappiest piece of football ever witnessed under Coach Frank Nuttall. But to be a bit fair, only Enock Agwanda, Collins Okoth and maybe Musa Mohammed showed up for the match.

It was our worst display yet the season is just starting.

Harun Shakava was exposed on numerous occasions, we were run over from his position. Karim Nizigiyimana on the other hand was a complete contrast to the defender of the year that he was in 2015. He was turned inside out by CNaPS wingers.

Khalid Aucho may as well have stayed in Kabalagala for another six months if what he displayed on Saturday is anything to go by. How do you accept chobo twice in one match? No way! Not when you are still called Khalid Aucho and by the way not when you are still playing for Gor Mahia.

Who is Jacob Keli? That boy is a fraud. Not worth any coin spent on him. He’s not a footballer.

Ok let’s be fair. He can play some football. Not just for Gor Mahia. He has no championship mentality. He is just some overzealous brat who got fame by scoring two against us when we had won the league anyway on the last day of season 2013. How many touches did he have on the ball against CNaPS?

Let me tell you. Anything that comes from KCB to Gor Mahia is bound to fail? Yea? You heard me. Remember Ezekiel Odera? Tragic story. I can’t see Jacob Keli succeeding at k’Ogalo. He can’t cope with our expectations. You see, there are countless clubs in this country where a player earns, trains, eats, fails and repeats that mediocre sequence. Not at Gor.

The concise incisive passing that had become a template description of Gor Mahia last season is gone. We are sluggish at retrieving the ball. We are even slower at mounting counter attacks. Our sprint relay team that was Meddie Kagere, Michael Olunga, Ali Abondo, Walusimbi and Aucho is no more.

Coach Frank Nuttall is said to be slowly but steadily losing command of the dressing room. If it is confirmed that he had a physical disagreement with his top goalkeeper then we may be getting ready for a tormenting season. I know both gentlemen.

Boniface Oluoch is one of the most fragilely sensitive players in our league. He needs all gallons of pampering available for him to give his best. The last time the Kenya international differed with his coach, it turned out really bad. That coach was the almighty Robert Matano. As soon as the first line of that script was written, we could see its conclusive paragraph; Bonnie was headed out of Tusker.

Frank Nuttall may be British but he’s not as suave as Bobby Williamson. He may not win against Queen Zdravko Logarušić in a press-releasing contest but in mannerisms he’s a British version of the Croat. He’s an excellent trainer. He has two league titles the last of which was the much celebrated 2015 unbeaten title.

In his 62 matches since 2014 he’s had an impressive 121 goals scored under him. He’s also won the Top Eight trophy. But his main undoing is his work ethics. How to relate with his bosses at the club, his players and the fans clearly fails him.  Bluntly put, Coach Nuttall is a British Zdravko Logarušić.

On the stands our passion is gone. The noise-meter is reading zero. Like guests attending a county investment forum, we are chilled and merely observing. Our ticket is the most expensive in the country. We pay through our noses only to come watch Jacob Keli succeed at missing all passes glided to him. We are literally running the gauntlet.

On one side is the playing unit that does not respect the shirt. On the other is an administration that is hell-bent to see fans suffer in emotional anguish. The club officials are now out to frustrate the coach. Call it chastisement. But at what time of the season? Why wasn’t this done off-season so we could prepare with a new coach in good time for 2016?

We’ll accept all problems in this city. Let poverty smite us. Let cancer and syphilis supported by Ebola torment us. But not conflicts in Gor Mahia. That is our only source of pride when all is gone. Whoever has the mandate to coach, administer or play for Gor Mahia should know the task he’s carrying.

We are not AFC Leopards to accept mediocrity!

@TomBwana